His singing career embraced a wide repertory of baroque, traditional, and modern pieces. He performed in theatres all over the world, and on radio primarily in Europe. He was a permanent member of the La Scala Opera Chorus in Milan and performed regularly there until his retirement in 2009.
Teaching career
He regularly held seminars and master classes on singing and style. He was called to teach at the Academy for Young Singers affiliated with the La Scala Opera, while under the directorship of the world-renowned soprano, Leyla Gencer, then at the Scuola Civica di Musica 'Claudio Abbado' in Milan, and at the Accademia Donizetti in Masate, Italy, where he was invited to teach vocal technique. He was also a guest teacher outside of Italy, teaching interpretation, staging scenes and full-length operas for young singers. He delivered the keynote address at the 20th National Professional Development Conference, sponsored by the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing at Queen Margaret College in Wellington, New Zealand and he took part in numerous discussions as guest speaker. While in New Zealand Manno gave master classes at the Universities of Otago and Waikato as well as private lessons. Maestro Manno was a frequent adjudicator for vocal performance competitions around the world. Maestro Manno taught English diction to the prestigious La Scala Opera Chorus for the La Scala debut of Benjamin Britten's “Death in Venice” and was immediately reconfirmed for the world premiere of Luca Francesconi's new opera “Quartett”. Maestro Manno's students can be heard regularly around the world in the major opera houses, on recordings, in concert halls, and on radio and television. His students include Thiago Arancam, Allan Rizzetti, Leonardo Cortellazzi. Maestro Manno died after a long battle against cancer.
Awards
He is the recipient of several awards for his recordings, among them the "Grand Prix du Disque" for baroque music, recorded with Swiss conductor Maestro Edwin Loehrer, and the "Best Recording of the Year", from Gramophone Magazine, for his two-CD solo recording of tenor music of the 17th century, Strana Armonia d’Amore, with Maestro Roberto Gini. Because of his devotion to divulging musical culture, on May 3, 2007, Vincenzo Manno was honoured with a tribute by the United States Congress, for the 40th Anniversary of his career.
